Spray tower



R. G. vB'OWMMWA 2,182,533 Y "SPRAY TOWER` Y l File@ Nov. 14, i935 I ,ullillllllllllll e fowivzam @tz/fge www@ Patented Dec. 5, V1939 UNITED STATES I A2,182,533V

SPRAY TOWER.

Reginald G. Bowman, Gary,

rlughber Engineering Ind.. assignor to Co., a corporation of Application November 14, 1935, Serial No. 49,849

2 Claims. (Cl. 261-92) This application relates to a spray tower and more particularly to 'an apparatus for removing ilne particles from gases. In`my Patent 1,959,- 945, issued May 22, 1934, is described a method of removing dust and fume from gases in which an emulsion or froth consisting of a washing liquid such as water and a. wetting agent such as oil, carried upon the surface of the washingleading into a lower chamber in which a deep body of liquid l is maintained upon the plates 5. The gas exits through the mouth 6 of the pipe 2, preferably downwardly so that large particles of dust may enter'the liquid by an inertia effect and other particles may be caught by the liquid. Above the liquid is a spray drum trough I which receives liquid from the pipe 8 communicating with the overiiows 9 in the chamber I0. Above the trough 1 and axially parallel thereto is a long cylindrical drum II rotatably mounted in bearings I2 and .driven by any suitable power means (not shown). This drum, which is preferably of the type known tothe trade as the Christensen 'drum sprayer, is so positioned with respect to the liquid level in the trough that its lower edge dips very slightly into the liquid so as to carry a ne lm of liquid which is then sprayed by centrifugal force throughout the chamber 3 in a very iinely atomized form.

The entering gases pass downwardly against the surface of the liquid l and then upwardly through the mist produced by the drum II and then upwardly through the overiiow members 9. I'hese overflow members are so mounted, as shown in Fig. 2, as to produce an impingement grill. As shown inFig. 4, they comprise a series of troughs I3 arranged in parallel spaced relation to each other and an alternating series of overhanging haines Il carried on spacers I5. 'I'he overiiows are enclosed by steel plates at the sidesI and ends so that al1 gases must pass through the spaces between the troughs I3, through which they proceed upwardly, striking the bales Il, and from there being deflected downwardly into the troughs I3. In some instances it may be desirable that the bailles Ily dip below the edges of the\ troughs I3. The gases are thus brought against mist-covered bames and directed against liquidcarrying troughs to assist in contacting dust and fume with the washing agent. At the same time, the baiiles serve to precipitate much or all of the mist carried by the gases. Condensed vor settled liquid from the chamber I0 thus passes through the troughs I3 to the pipe .8 and is returned to the trough 'i to maintain the liquid level therein. Excess liquid from the trough 'I may drain over the edges or through the overilow into the pool of liquid 4 which is vented through the overflow weir I6 into the separating pool I'I from which it may be recycled through the line I8 and supplied with additional oil from the oil drum I9 and driven by the pump into an upper portion of the tower I, for example into the trough Ild.

The overflows, instead of Adraining into the trough 1, may drain into the liquid 4 as shown in Fig. 3, in which case the trough itself may be supplied from the pool, or other means of supplying the trough may be used.

The same process is repeated in chamber III that was carried out in chamber I and likewise in chambers IUD and I 0, in each case a means for generating spray being provided and the overflow from each chamber passing to the chamber beneath. Gases from the top chamber IIIc pass through other overflow means 9c which may be provided in duplicate, and in which spray carried by the gases is precipitated and drained to the line 2| providedwith an overilow cup 22 from which it is returned to the chamber I0.

In the modication shown in Fig. 3, a simplied tower is shown in which a. long series of chambers is avoided. In this device gases are admitted directly over the spray through the line 23 and pass out through the bubble plate 2l provided with risers 25 and bell caps 26.` A liquid level is maintained upon the plate by the height of the overiiow 21. Itis preferred to introduce washing liquid to the upper chamber 28 through the spray nozzles 29 to which liquid passes through the line 3Q. When liquid is so sprayed into the chamber, it is preferable to provide a series of baiies 3l` to protect the froth which is produced around the bells from the spray.

In the operation of the spray tower, liquid is originally introduced through the line I8 into an upper portion of the spray tower, sufcient washing liquid and frcthing agent being introduced to ll the series of troughs. Rotation of the spray Iis i oil lighter than water which will produce' an emulsion in the form of a. froth or foam with'the water.

vThe foregoing description is given for clear-v ness ot understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for

modications will be obvious to those skilled in Y the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for the removal of ne particles from gases: a chamber provided with gas inlet and outlet ports. a dipping-trough in said chamber provided with a rotatable drum mounted to maintain contact with liquid in sai'd trough and upon rotation cause the formation of a iine mist.' a sump in the bottom of said chamber for accumulating said liquid and provided with liquid sealed overflow means adapted to drain the liquid with dirty froth produced by the gases to a separating pool exterior of the chamber, and means for cycling separated washing liquid and a froth free wetting agent from said exterior pool to the trough.

2. Apparatus as specined in claim 1,.in which additional troughs with rotatable drums are disposed in series relation above said dipping-trough, and means, is provided for accumulating and conducting liquid to an underlying trough after the liquid has been thrown from a superposed adjacent trough.

REGINALD G. BOWMAN. 

